Navy | The Royal Navy |
Type | ASW Trawler |
Class | [No specific class] |
Pennant | FY 238 |
Built by | Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd. (Selby, U.K.) |
Ordered | |
Laid down | |
Launched | 23 Apr 1936 |
Commissioned | Dec 1939 |
End service | |
History | Completed in June 1936. Returned to her owner in May 1946. |
Commands listed for HMS Viviana (FY 238)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
Commander | From | To | ||
1 | Skr. Gunnar Lie Olesen, RNR | 16 Dec 1939 | mid 1941 | |
2 | Skr. George Henry Oliver, RNR | 2 Jan 1942 | mid 1942 | |
3 | T/Skr. Edward Arthur Read, RNR | mid 1942 | 16 Oct 1942 | |
4 | Skr. Robert Trueman, RNR | 16 Oct 1942 | 1 Nov 1944 | |
5 | T/Lt. John Pierson Jones, RNVR | 1 Nov 1944 |
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Notable events involving Viviana include:
3 Jan 1940
HMS H 50 (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Viviana (Skr. G.L. Olesen, RNR) and also with HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.L. Machin, RN) and HMS Kimberley (Lt.Cdr. R.G.K. Knowling, RN).
Later in the afternoon HMS Kelvin and HMS Kimberley escorted the armed merchant cruiser HMS Dunvegan Castle (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN) which was conducting gunnery exercises off Portland. (1)
11 Jan 1940
HMS H 50 (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Viviana (Skr. G.L. Olesen, RNR) and another vessel [unable to read the name in the log of HMS H 50] (2)
16 May 1941
Convoy OG 62.
This convoy was assembled to the west of the North Channel on 16 May 1941 and was made up of ships from four sections; the Milford Haven, Liverpool, Clyde and Oban sections.
The Milford Haven section (sailed 14 May 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Atle Jarl (Norwegian, 1173 GRT, built 1919), British Chancellor (British (tanker), 7085 GRT, built 1921), Edward F. Johnson (British (tanker), 10452 GRT, built 1937), Emmy (Greek, 3895 GRT, built 1914), Leerdam (Dutch, 8815 GRT, built 1921), Ocean Coast (British, 1173 GRT, built 1935), Rolf Jarl (Norwegian, 1917 GRT, built 1920), Serula (British, 2187 GRT, built 1918) and Storanger (Norwegian (tanker), 9223 GRT, built 1930).
On departure from Milford Haven this section was escorted by the escort destroyer HMS Wolsey (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC, RN), A/S trawler HMS Viviana (Skr. G.L. Olesen, RNR) and the armed yacht HMS Troubadour (Cdr.(ret) D.H. Milward, DSC, RNR). These ships arrived at Belfast on the 16th after having been detached from the convoy.
The Liverpool section (sailed 15 May 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Avra (Greek, 4652 GRT, built 1912), Dordrecht (Dutch, 4402 GRT, built 1928) and Panaghis (Greek, 5187 GRT, built 1920). This section was escorted by the sloop HMS Bideford (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Moore, RNR).
The Clyde section (sailed 16 May 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Baltara (British, 3099 GRT, built 1918), Henry Stanley (British, 5026 GRT, built 1929), Horn Shell (British (tanker), 8272 GRT, built 1931), Kingston Hill (British, 7628 GRT, built 1940), Loch Ranza (British, 4958 GRT, built 1934), Mobeka (Belgian, 6111 GRT, built 1937), Pinto (British, 1346 GRT, built 1928), River Lugar (British, 5423 GRT, built 1937) and Wrotham (British, 1884 GRT, built 1927). The rescue ship Zamalek (British, 1567 GRT, built 1921) was also with this section.
The Oban section (sailed 16 May 1941) was made up of the following merchant vessels; Alex (British, 3932 GRT, built 1914), Ashby (British, 4868 GRT, built 1927), Baron Napier (British, 3559 GRT, built 1930), Baron Pentland (British, 3410 GRT, built 1927), Chr. Knudsen (Norwegian, 4904 GRT, built 1925), Drakepool (British, 4838 GRT, built 1924), Empire Surf (British, 6641 GRT, built 1941), Lekhaven (Dutch, 4802 GRT, built 1921), Solstad (Swedish, 1379 GRT, built 1924) and Ulea (British, 1574 GRT, built 1936). This section was escorted by the A/S trawler HMS Ayrshire (T/Lt. L.J.A. Gradwell, RNVR).
On final assembly to the west of the North Channel on the 16th the convoy was joined by additional escorts which were the destroyers HMS Boadicea (A/Cdr. E.C.L. Turner, RN), HMCS St.Francis (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Pullen, RCN), sloop HMS Egret (A/Capt. E.M. Haes, RN), corvettes HMS Aster (Lt.Cdr. E. Hewitt, RD, RNR), HMCS Arrowhead (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Skinner, RCNR), HMCS Hepatica (T/Lt. C. Copelin, RCNR), HMCS Snowberry (T/Lt. R.S. Kelley, RCNR), HMCS Spikenard (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Shadforth, RCNR) and the A/S trawlers HMS Arab (T/Lt. C.A. Shillan, RNVR) and A/S trawler HMS Stella Carina (Lt. R. Lockwood, RANVR). HMS Bideford and HMS Ayrshire were also still with the convoy. The destroyer HMCS Niagara (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) E.L. Armstrong, RCN) was unable to join due to defects.
The Dordrecht arrived in the Clyde on 17 May. She had returned to the U.K. with defects.
Around 0600B/17, in position 55°35'N, 07°50'W, the corvette HMS Woodruff (T/Lt. T. Muir, RNVR) joined.
Around 0800B/17, in position 55°33'N, 08°15'W, HMCS Hepatica was detached to go to the assistance of the merchant vessel Statesman (British, 7939 GRT, built 1923), that had been bombed by enemy aircraft in position 56°44'N, 13°45'W. The damaged ship sank later that morning. HMCS Hepatica reported at 0005B/18, that she had onboard 60 survivors. She was then ordered to proceed to Londonderry.
Around 0950B/19, HMS Arab carried out a depth charge attack on a doubtful contact and due to the firing of the depth charges she suffered an engine defect. HMCS St. Francis was ordered to go to her assistance but this order was soon cancelled and HMCS Spikenard was sent instead. HMS Arab later signalled she needed a tow.
At 1505B/19, a report was received of an enemy submarine in position 51°30'N, 23°30'W. It was noticed that this submarine would endanger northbound convoy SL 73.
Around 1645B/19, HMS Boadicea, HMCS St. Francis were detached to reinforce convoy SL 73 early.
Around 2330B/19, HMS Egret, HMCS Arrowhead, HMCS Snowberry, HMS Ayrshire and the Zamalek were detached to also join convoy SL 73.
Around 2330B/20, in position 49°31'N, 19°14'W, some ships were detached to destinations in North America and the Caribbean. This were the following; Alex (arrived at Montreal on 2 June 1941), Ashby (arrived at Montreal on 31 May 1941), Avra (arrived at Quebec on 31 May 1941), Baltara (arrived at Montreal on 2 June 1941), Baron Pentland (arrived at Sydney, Nova Scotia on 29 May 1941), British Chancellor (arrived at Curacao on 6 June 1941), Chr. Knudsen (arrived at Three Rivers on 31 May 1941), Drakepool (arrived at Montreal on 3 June 1941), Edward F. Johnson (arrived at Aruba on 4 June 1941), Empire Surf (arrived at Aruba on 4 June 1941), Horn Shell (arrived at New York on 2 June 1941), Leerdam (arrived at New York on 29 May 1941), Lekhaven (arrived at Three Rivers on 31 May 1941), Loch Ranza (arrived at Montreal on 31 May 1941), Panaghis (arrived at Sorel on 31 May 1941) and Storanger (arrived at Aruba on 5 June 1941).
Around 1430B/23, in position 42°44'N, 21°34'W, the Dutch submarine HrMs O 24 (Lt.Cdr. O. de Booy, RNN) joined the convoy. HMS Aster had been detached the previous day to make contact with convoy HG 62 and then escort the submarine from that convoy over to convoy OG 62.
Around 2300B/23, in position 41°44'N, 21°20'W, some ships were detached to destinations in the South Atlantic area. This were the following; Atle Jarl (arrived at Bathurst on 2 June 1941), Baron Napier (arrived at Freetown on 6 June 1941), Emmy (arrived at Freetown on 5 June 1941), Henry Stanley (arrived at Freetown on 2 June 1941), Kingston Hill (arrived at St. Vincent on 30 May 1941), River Lugar (arrived at Freetown on 5 June 1941), Rolf Jarl (arrived at Bathurst on 31 May 1941) and .
Around 1000B/29, to the south of Cape Trafalgar, some ships were detached to destinations in south-west Spain and Portugal. This were the following; Serula (arrived at Huelva on 29 May 1941), Solstad (arrived at Lisbon on 31 May 1941), Uela (arrived at Huelva on 29 May 1941) and Wrotham (arrived at Setubal on 31 May 1941).
The remainder of the convoy arrived at Gibraltar in the afteroon of 29 May 1941. (3)
9 Dec 1942
HMS P 614 (Lt. H.W. Wilkinson, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Freetown together with HMS Orfasy (T/A/Skr.Lt. G.A. Whichello, DSC, RNR), HMS Le Tiger (T/Lt. C.A. Hoodless, RNR) and HMS Viviana (Skr. R. Trueman, RNR). (4)
12 Dec 1942
HMS P 614 (Lt. H.W. Wilkinson, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Freetown together with HMS Hydrangea (A/Lt.Cdr. J.E. Woolfenden, RD, RNR), FFS Commandant Drogou, HMS Viviana (Skr. R. Trueman, RNR) and HMS Northern Isles (T/Lt. J.M. Baldry, RNVR). (4)
Sources
- ADM 53/112094 + ADM 173/16327
- ADM 173/16327
- ADM 178/13 + ADM 199/1142
- ADM 173/17529
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.